Not that far actually. As within the animal kingdom, human beings've always chased quarry, whether for food or sport. Both produced excitement amongst those who were participating and anyone watrching, and the same crowd mentaility's still seen today at football matches and other sports. Chasing after a ball's only a step up from live targets, and so, ghastly as it must've been, gladiator sports were seen as something to be enjoyed. : (

Seeing human beings and animals in distress can cause a sadistic pleasure or evoke protective instincts, but neither are that far from each other if we take it back to basic instincts.

Must admit that I tried to dodge it when we were at school and the pitch was covered in a heavy frost. We once played when it was snowing. It warmed you up after a bit though, especially in my position which meant running up and down the field constantly.